Issue 12, 2006

Hydro lakes: situation improves

Lake Pupuke

New Zealand’s hydroelectric lake storage received a very timely boost during the first two weeks of January. This is shown clearly in M-co updates and NIWA monitoring. Without normal winter snow volumes to melt, the source of the water was heavy northwesterly rainfall in the Southern Alps. Thanks to the rain, total storage was boosted from a low 60% of normal to 90% by mid-January. Storage was 85% of normal at the end of the month. This will be very welcome in readiness for the winter electricity demand.

Nitrous oxide in the paddock

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a potent greenhouse gas accounting for about 20% of New Zealand’s current inventory of 'Kyoto emissions'.
Roughly half of New Zealand’s N₂O emissions come from the breakdown of cattle excreta and another 15% from nitrogen fertiliser. The emissions have increased by about 30% between 1990 and 2003.

Climate-energy workshop attracts attention

Workshop participants: (left to right) Dennis Jamieson, Doug Goodwin, Dr Michael Uddstrom, Dr Jim Renwick.

Dennis Jamieson (leader, National Centre for Climate-Energy Solutions), Doug Goodwin (System Operator Development Manager, Transpower), Dr Michael Uddstrom (NIWA principal scientist), Dr Jim Renwick (NIWA principal scientist & leader of this research programme), at NIWA’s 3rd technical workshop on climate-related risks for energy supply and demand.
The workshop was held under the auspices of NIWA’s Climate-related Risks for E